German Automakers Hit with Another Antitrust Class Action in Virginia
by Erin Shaak
Last Updated on November 17, 2017
Schmidt v. Bayerische Motoren Werke AG et al.
Filed: November 14, 2017 ◆§ 1:17-cv-01294-LO-MSN
German automakers Volkswagen, Audi, Porsche, Mercedes-Benz, and BMW are facing another lawsuit alleging they engaged in a series of 'covert meetings' to suppress competition and delay innovation, all while charging a premium price for their vehicles.
German automakers Volkswagen, Audi, Porsche, Mercedes-Benz, and BMW are facing another proposed class action lawsuit alleging they engaged in a series of “covert meetings” to suppress competition and delay innovation, all while charging a premium price for their vehicles. The suit alleges the companies have, for decades, shared “highly sensitive” information among each other regarding “virtually every aspect” of designing and building their vehicles, down to the speed at which a convertible top could be opened or closed. As a result, the complaint claims, the “German Five” have been able to save money on innovation, cheat regulators, and charge consumers a higher price than they would have paid in a competitive market.
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